Daily Republican., 1887-10-21
Mount Mystery.

we were lost IN the heart OF Costa
RIGA.
There were six of US in the party,
all young fellows with little or no ex-
|perience, and when we realized our
situation VIC were in despair.
When we started out from the coast
1t seemed to US that il would be regu.
lar frolic to spend a couple of weeks
among the mountains in the interior.
At the end OF that time the brig Pa
|cifc would be ready to depart, and we
could then resume our journey to San
Francisco.
The captain Of the vessel endeavored
to dssuade us.
1.-THE natives are not likely to bother
you," he said, "but very little is
known Of the country beyond the
mountains. Strange tales have reached
my cars, and although l am as fond of
adventure as anybody, the trip would
not suit me-"
We laughed q. the old sailor. We
were well armed and afraid of
nothing.
1T is all right" / told the captain,
with proper caution there will be no
danger. We may make valuable dis
coveries and become famous ex plorers.
1t is time to unveil the secrets OF this
wonderful land, and it is nonsense to
be frightened off by few sailors
yarns"
The captain shook his head and
said no more. We completed our
preparations for the trip, and early one
morning started OFF In the highest
spirits.
When the discovery was made,
after we had been camping out for
about week, that we had lost our
way IL appeared to muddle our heads
Various attempts were made to head
towards the coast, but in every in
stance we were compelled TO return
disheartcned and uncertain as to our
course.
The few natives encountered in our
wanderings were unlike those along
the seaboard. They were light colored.
handsome and active, and fed at our
approach, refusing to hold any COM.
munication with us.
One evening we camped on The Dor
dcrs OF a lovely lake under the shadow
of frowning mouHtain.
''There is something queer about
that mountain" remarked Walpole,
the only sailor in our party.
"Queerl" l replied cautiously.
Everything is queer in this peculiar
land. What Is 1t about the mountain
that strikes your"
"While have been resting here"
said Walpole, who was lazily re.
clining on the grass, Il have been
using my eyes. The mountain is as
steep on this side as the face of a stone
wall. 1t 1t is that way all around the
top must be inaccessible.
"Well," 1 answered, "who wants
to climb to the topf"
81 do, for one" responded Walpole.
"The luminous cloud or vapor around
the summit and reaching down the
sides is strange thing. just watch
it for moment"
l looked upward at the precipitous
mass of rock. The cloud was station
airy, and looked more like steam than
anything else.
occasionally" said my companion,
81 see birds fly out of the cloud, and
after circliDg about Cor awhile they al
ways return. Then, il my ears do not
deceive me, and they are keen ones, /
can distinguish various voices all COM
ing fIom the direction of the cloud.'
why, man, you are losing your
Senses" interrupted. "If the summit
is inaccessible, what can there be up
there to make a noises'
birds at least" said the sailor, with
q smile. II can swear to seeing the
birds. l don't know what else may
be up there, but several times In the
last half hour / have heard the clang
OF metal and the sound of human
voices"
HE is right" said Hinton, another
member Of our party. 81 have heard
the same sounds, but l didn't like to
It,"
why not explore littleW sug
gested, indifierently.
To my surprise everybody agreed.
The men were tired roaming about
with disappointment at
every turn. They were ready for
anything for change.
In the morning two men started in |
)ne direction around the base of the |
while two went in the other.
Their p an was to proceed until they /
met, and then return together.
l remained with one man at the
amp. Others might investigate Mt.
Mystery, as we called 1t, but l ielt too
|atigued for such an effort.
During the day We lounged shout
ind watched the cloud wrapped phe-
oomenon before us. More than once
heart CHATTER apparently in the up
DER air, and once or twice l was sure
hat | heard voices. Evidently Mt.
Mystery was good name for this
freak of nature.
Late in the afternoon our comrades
returned. They had walked all day,
covering many miles, and they had
learned nothing except that the noun
lain presented the same perpendicular
wall-like appearance all the way
around.
"At one place." said Hinton, 1--WE
Jaw a tolerably large stream OF water